SR0564 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0564 LRB099 12460 MST 35806 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald E. Wehrli of Naperville, who passed away on May 17, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Donald Wehrli was born on February 28, 1928; he grew up in the original Pre-Emption House on Chicago Avenue in downtown Naperville and attended Saints Peter & Paul Grade School and Naperville High School, graduating in 1946; he served as a United States Army Records Specialist; and

WHEREAS, Donald Wehrli managed the Dickenson Jam & Jelly Shop in Disneyland in the 1950s, where Walt Disney told him, "Don, there is great satisfaction in making other people happy"; he began Naperville Trolley & Tours in 1995 and delighted in telling the history of Naperville and welcoming people aboard to celebrate their happy occasions; the business grew to 4 trolleys and was recently sold to his daughter; he was elected to the Naperville City Council from 1983 to 1987; and

WHEREAS, Donald Wehrli played in, and later refereed, the annual Turkey Bowl football game; he was fond of sayings and pleased to be published in Bits & Pieces: "Live a Life of Awareness"; and

WHEREAS, Donald Wehrli directed his energies toward gardening, exercise, speaking at public forums, working to support his family, volunteering for Naperville Evening Kiwanis, and helping to build the Naperville Riverwalk; he was a Past Commander of American Legion Naperville Post 43, inducted into the Saints Peter & Paul School Hall of Honors in 2006, and received the Naperville Jaycees Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Donald Wehrli is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean Knoch; his 7 children, Mary Lou (Herb), Win (Deborah), Fred (Anne), Jill, Francie, Annette, and Grant (Sharon); his 14 grandchildren Sarah, Megan (Travis), Lauren (Josh), Michelle (Aaron), Dana, Michael (Colleen), Austin, Elizabeth, Kayla, Colette, Jack, Jake, Joe, and Luke; and his 2 great-grandchildren, Emma and Ben; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald E. Wehrli, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Donald Wehrli as an expression of our deepest sympathy.